Kgosi Bokamoso speaks on his father's burial fiasco
The royal grave had been dug in Tonota's main Molebatsi Kgotla kraal in line with Bakhurutshi culture, ready for the burial of 93-year-old Kgosi Ramosinyi Radipitse the next day.
But in the early hours of Sunday morning, 3am to be precise - an ominous envoy bearing devastating news arrived at the royal house.
It was a letter of demand from Ngwato Land Board who instructed Olatotse Solomon, Attorneys Notaries and Conveyances of Francistown to bar the royal family from burying their Patriarch in the Molebatsi Kgotla kraal.
Their reason? It is not a designated burial site!
Caught off guard from his sleep, the young reigning Chief, Bokamoso Radipitse, sprang into action. His major concern, even as he began consulting his royal uncles for guidance at that awkward hour, was to stay true to his late father's wish.
The Patriarch did not want his corpse to stay for long before interment. Therefore, the young Kgosi decided not to engage in legal wrangles, but to work closely with bo-Rangwane.
Narrating the ordeal to Botswana Guardian, Kgosi Bokamoso Radipitse said that his father died during the night of 8 August, 2023 at around 11pm.
'I called bo-Rangwane and my father’s uncle Masweufala, Abotseng and we had a meeting around 1am, where I informed them that I am ready to bury my father, but I cannot bury their Kgosi, therefore I handed over to them to execute that mandate,' he said.
He further expressed a desire to lay his father to rest on Saturday. According to Radipitse, some of the elders objected, but he explained to them that his father had expressed that he wanted to be buried as quickly as possible.
'I further told them that my task will be to ensure that he is laid quickly as per his request. My father told me that his death should not be treated as a party and that I should not take long let alone bring many flowers!
'The uncles agreed to call a Kgotla meeting the next day to inform the tribe. I started with burial preparations as a son. The Kgotla meeting only took place on Friday and the tribe moved that Saturday will be too close for burial.
“We differed with my uncles, but ultimately, I told them that the arrangements for digging the grave will be done by his own “sons” of Buzezuru clan inside Molebatsu kraal.
“We chose the kraal because all Bakhurutshi Magosi have been buried there namely Kgosi Rauwe Sekoko- Ramosinyi Sekoko (i) and Radipitse Ramosinyi , and it was now Ramosinyi Radipitse who lived with them in Mandunyane for a long time.'
He explained that the reason he chose Buzezuru is because they know where all the graves were located inside the kraal, including that of their Father “Pontsho Radipitse Sekoko”.
Radipitse further explained that that the Buzezuru tribe are not related to Bakhurutshe by birth, but the relationship with them started in 1958 when they came to settle in Tonota.
They were welcomed by Kgosi Radipitse, who lived harmoniously with them, treating them like his own at Mmandunyane near Shashe dam.
Radipitse left the area due to ill-health and came back to Molebatsi ward where he stayed until he passed on. For a long time, Buzezuru even used Molebatsi Kgotla as their own until lately when Mmandunyane was gazetted as a village.
Radipitse said that on Saturday at around 8pm a Good Samaritan informed him that there is an underground move whereby lawyers have been instructed to ensure that they serve him with a letter of demand to stop Kgosi Ramosinyi's burial taking place inside the kraal on Sunday morning.
'Armed with this vital information, I met uncles who are the custodian of the Bakhurutshi chieftainship being Mmusi Mmusi, Phate Tumedi and uncle Abotseng and sought their opinion.
“We all later agreed to dig a new grave at John Phoko gravesite,' he said, adding that they resolved to abide by the law.
While at the gravesite, Radipitse says they were notified that one Peter Williams accompanied by some Land Board members had come to notify the family of instructions to halt the burial of Kgosi Ramosinyi from taking place inside the kraal.
'I calmed her down but we were fully aware that it is against our culture as my father was being denied his rights of being buried in the same kraal where his parents are currently resting.' As if that was not enough, Radipitse said on Sunday at around 3am, they received a letter of demand served by one who identified himself as Gunda, stating that they should not bury their father inside the kraal otherwise they should seek an interdict.
Botswana Guardian is in possession of the demand letter authored by Olatotse Solomon Attorneys Notaries and Conveyances of Francistown dated 13th August, 2023, the day of the funeral.
The humiliated Radipitse wants people to understand that 'Bogosi ga se mokgabo, we are leaders and we should ensure that there is peace and tranquillity and adherence to the law at all times. We are also custodians of our culture, tradition and customs and we need to be respected.'
“It is hurting to notice that some of the laws appear to be against cultural practices, this needs to be rectified as we face a situation whereby as Dikgosi, re bona Ngwao le Tsamaiso di tsamaya di retswa mo diatleng re di lebile ka matho”.
The last burial in the particular kraal happened in 1981.
Ngwato Land board allocation policy article (18.0 Cemeteries) states that, deceased persons shall be buried at designated cemeteries.
These are cemeteries which would have been identified in consultation with Tribal Authority, the Village Development Committee/District Council and the Land Board and/or zoned as such by the Village Development Plan.
Ngwato Land Board chairman, David Modisagape said they issued a letter of demand to ensure that their communication has reached the targeted people as some often claim no knowledge. He further said the tribe should have applied for a waiver if they wanted to bury their Kgosi in the kraal.